Firearms deer take up by about 3 percent DNR preliminary figures show harvest of 35,945

January 11, 1998|By Peter Baker | Peter Baker,SUN STAFF

Maryland deer hunters surpassed last year's firearms-season totals in 14 of 23 counties this year, according to preliminary counts by the Department of Natural Resources.

Overall, the preliminary count of 35,945 is 3 percent greater than last year. Preliminary totals do not include the figures from the two-day extension of firearms season that ended yesterday in 18 counties.

Montgomery County had the greatest dropoff, with a decrease of 28 percent, while Calvert County had the largest increase, 53 percent.

The record for firearms season is 39,406, set in 1995.

This year's count was the third highest on record.

Santa Maria Cup

The BOAT/U.S. Santa Maria Cup, the women's match-racing competition sailed annually in Annapolis, has been upgraded to a Grade 2 international championship by US Sailing.

This year's Santa Maria Cup will be sailed May 27-31. The field of 10 skippers has not yet been selected.

Show opens

The popular Bass Expo, Saltwater Fishing and Fly Fishing Show opens at the State Fairgrounds in Timonium on Thursday, with top pros David Fritts and Dion Hibdon scheduled to teach seminars that evening.

Fritts, who has won $500,000 in the past year, and Hibdon, who won the Bassmasters Classic last summer, will be at the show on Thursday only.

However, the next three days of the show will include seminars by experts in bass, bay and fly fishing. Seminars are included in the price of admission.

The show will open at noon Thursday and Friday and at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for ages 10-14 and free for those under 10.

Firearms season numbers

Preliminary counts for the two-week firearms season for deer indicate an increase of 3 percent statewide over last year. Figures do not include results of the two-day extension of firearms season that ended yesterday.